Benke, 57, was on hand in the Senate chamber to be honored for his actions Feb. 23 when he tackled and disarmed a mentally disturbed man who shot and injured two students at the middle school, likely saving the lives of many children that day.

The Senate presented him with a U.S. flag that had flown over the state Capitol on Feb. 23 and passed a resolution honoring his actions that day and recognizing today as “Dr. David Benke Day” in Colorado. Benke was tearful as senators came up afterward to shake his hand. A separate proclamation from Gov. Bill Ritter also honors Benke.